Health & Hospital

1. Għandi bżonn tabib, jekk jogħġbok.

   I need a doctor, please.

   Usage

   Essential phrase when you need medical attention.

   Grammar Note

   "tabib" (doctor) is from Arabic "tabib", showing Maltese Semitic heritage.

2. Għandi uġigħ fl-istonku.

   I have a stomach ache.

   Usage

   Describing symptoms to a doctor or pharmacist.

   Grammar Note

   "fl-" is a contraction of "fi il-" (in the); the article assimilates to certain consonants.

3. Fejn hi l-eqreb spiżerija?

   Where is the nearest pharmacy?

   Usage

   Used when you need to find a pharmacy.

   Grammar Note

   "eqreb" is the superlative of "qrib" (near), following Arabic comparative patterns.

4. Għandi allerġija għall-peniċillina.

   I have an allergy to penicillin.

   Usage

   Informing healthcare providers of drug allergies.

   Grammar Note

   "għal-" is the preposition "for/to", indicating what the allergy is towards.

5. Qiegħed inħoss deni u tertir.

   I am feeling a fever and chills.

   Usage

   Describing illness symptoms in detail.

   Grammar Note

   "Qiegħed" + an imperfect verb (such as "inħoss") creates the progressive tense, like "I am feeling".

6. Hemm xi sptar qrib?

   Is there a hospital nearby?

   Usage

   Used in emergencies when looking for a hospital.

   Grammar Note

   "sptar" is derived from the Italian "ospedale" (hospital) via Sicilian influence.

7. Nixtieq mediċina kontra l-uġigħ.

   I would like pain relief medicine.

   Usage

   Requesting pain medication at a pharmacy or clinic.

   Grammar Note

   "kontra" is a Latin-derived preposition meaning "against/for".

8. Kemm-il darba nieħu din il-pillola?

   How many times should I take this pill?

   Usage

   Checking dosage instructions for medication.

   Grammar Note

   "Kemm-il darba" is the fixed phrase for "how many times"; "darba" means "once".

9. Diffiċli nibla'.

   It is difficult to swallow.

   Usage

   Describing throat pain or difficulty to a doctor.

   Grammar Note

   "nibla'" is the first person present of "bela'" (to swallow).

10. Għandi bżonn riċetta mit-tabib.

    I need a prescription from the doctor.

    Usage

    Used when obtaining prescription medication at a pharmacy.

    Grammar Note

    "mit-" contracts "minn il-" (from the); "minn" is the preposition "from".

11. Jien tqila.

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Decides whether medicine or X-rays are safe; the feminine form, said of oneself

12. ażma

    Asthma

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist about this condition

13. dijabete

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist about this condition

14. pressjoni għolja

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist about this condition

15. marda tal-qalb

    Heart disease

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist about this condition

16. epilessija

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist about this condition

17. assigurazzjoni

    Insurance

    Usage

    Comes up when registering or paying at a clinic

18. Ksirt għadma.

    I broke a bone

    Usage

    Communicates the severity of an injury at once

19. Ma nistax nieħu n-nifs.

    I can't breathe properly

    Usage

    A high-urgency symptom; show it immediately

20. Qed inħossni sturdut.

    I feel dizzy

    Usage

    For light-headedness or unsteadiness

21. demm

    Blood (bleeding)

    Usage

    Point at the bleeding spot while showing it

22. ħruq

    Burn

    Usage

    Names the type of injury at a pharmacy or clinic

23. ferita

    Wound

    Usage

    Names the type of injury at a pharmacy or clinic

24. sogħla

    Cough

    Usage

    For describing your symptom at a pharmacy

25. ħakk

    Itchy

    Usage

    For insect bites or skin irritation

26. raxx

    Rash

    Usage

    Describes a skin problem at a pharmacy

27. menstruwazzjoni

    Menstrual period

    Usage

    The word to use at a pharmacy or clinic

28. tip tad-demm

    Blood type

    Usage

    Blood type; asked before a transfusion or surgery

29. dħul fl-isptar

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Hospital admission, literally "entry into the hospital"; used at reception or for insurance paperwork

30. tertir

    Chills

    Usage

    Chills or shivering; the verbal noun of "terter" (to shiver)

31. riħ

    Common cold

    Usage

    A common cold; "I have a cold" is "Għandi r-riħ". A separate word spelled the same means "wind" — the two are told apart only in the plural ("rjiħat" for colds, "rjieħ" for winds), so the bare word can be misread on its own

32. ċertifikat mediku

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    A medical certificate; the Maltese text of article 106 of the Social Security Act (Cap. 318) uses this phrase where the English text reads "medical certificate"

33. Sejjaħ tabib, jekk jogħġbok.

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Asks a bystander to call a doctor when someone falls ill

    Grammar Note

    tabib = doctor. Sejjaħ …, jekk jogħġbok = the please call … request pattern. Example: Sejjaħ lill-pulizija, jekk jogħġbok

34. Għandi uġigħ hawn.

    It hurts here

    Usage

    Point at the painful spot while showing this to a doctor

    Grammar Note

    hawn = here; replace the body part in Għandi uġigħ fl-istonku with hawn and point anywhere on the body.

35. Qed inħossni għajjien.

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Tells a doctor that your body feels heavy from fever or fatigue

    Grammar Note

    għajjien / għajjiena = tired, masculine / feminine. Replace the adjective in Qed inħossni sturdut.

36. Għandi bżonn mistrieħ?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Asks the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest

    Grammar Note

    Għandi bżonn … + mistrieħ = I need … + rest, turned into a question. Example: Għandi bżonn ambulanza

37. Ivvomtajt diversi drabi.

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Tells a doctor that the vomiting was not a one-off; the number of times helps the diagnosis

    Grammar Note

    -ajt / ivvomta / ivvomtajt = first-person singular perfect ending / vomit / I vomited. Compare Waqajt (I fell). Tivvomta is a form meaning makes you vomit. diversi / diversi drabi / darba = several / several times / once; darba is singular. Compare Kemm-il darba.

38. dijarea

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Names the symptom in one word, a medical term understood by doctors and pharmacists.

39. stitikezza

    Constipation

    Usage

    Names the symptom in one word. It is a feminine noun; with the article it is "l-istitikezza"

40. feċi

    Poop

    Usage

    A neutral medical word for stool, always plural, used at a clinic. With the article: il-feċi.

41. awrina

    Pee

    Usage

    A formal word for urine, used at a clinic. Feminine; with the article, l-awrina.

42. Għandi dijarea.

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tells a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    Għandi + symptom = pattern for stating symptoms; dijarea is used without an article. Example: Għandi uġigħ fl-istonku / Għandi deni

43. Għandi stitikezza.

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Tells a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated. Literally "I have constipation"

    Grammar Note

    Għandi + symptom = pattern for stating symptoms; stitikezza is constipation. Example: Għandi dijarea / dijarea, stitikezza

44. Għandi bżonn ngħaddi l-awrina.

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Tells a companion that you need to pee. Literally "I need to pass the urine", so it sounds slightly formal.

    Grammar Note

    Għandi bżonn + first-person verb = need + first-person verb. Compare third-person għandu bżonn jgħaddi l-awrina (needs to pass urine), turned into first person. Awrina means urine. Example: Għandi bżonn ambulanza

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